The Rev Colin Mathewson shares this information from the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium.
- Central American refugees, many of whom are children, are coming to the United States seeking humanitarian assistance because of the dangers they face in their home countries
- All of the Central American refugees coming are presenting themselves to agents either at the border or in the field (they are not attempting illegal entry)
- They are mostly entering though Texas, but are being transported to other parts of the border for processing
- An estimated 140 people, all in family units, will be transported to the San Diego sector every 3 days
- There are NO unaccompanied minors coming to CA; all are accompanied by family members (mostly mothers)
- They will be flown to San Diego and then bused to several Border Patrol stations in the sector
- At the BP stations, the refugees will be processed for a Notice to Appear (NTA) in court to assess any claims they might have such as asylum
- Processing may take a day to several days depending on the backlog during which time the refugees will sleep at the stations; they will be given sleeping cots, temporary clothing, and warm meals brought in by a contracted service provider
- Once processed for an NTA, the refugees will be transported to downtown San Diego where ICE will make a custody determination (usually within a matter of hours)
- Roughly 90% of the refugees have family in the US, but not in San Diego, and are destined to other parts of the country. Another 10% who do not have ties to the US will be released to sponsors (such as churches)
- The refugees will be released on their own recognizance upon providing proof of family/sponsor, a destination address, and proof of means to get to the destination
- Upon release, all will be given a parole document and will be required to appear at the ICE office within a certain number of days and will be scheduled for immigration court in the jurisdiction of their destination
- All will be given their day in court to assess their eligibility to stay in the country based on eligibility for a humanitarian remedy or other remedy
could St. Paul's sponsor a family? Maybe the Diocese and or ECS?
Jim Keeley